Subao Logistics

Taiwan to Mainland Shipping Guide (2026)

A practical, community-maintained reference for shipping packages from Taiwan to the Mainland — carriers, costs, prohibited items, and customs rules.

Quick answer: Shipping from Taiwan to the Mainland takes 3–7 working days and starts around NT$250–290/kg. General cargo (clothes, books) can go via Chunghwa Post EMS or SF Express, but food, cosmetics, supplements and electronics with batteries are classified as “sensitive goods” and are rejected by mainstream carriers — these require a dedicated cross-strait sensitive goods line with dual customs clearance.

Section	What it covers
Shipping Methods	4 carrier options compared — speed, cost, sensitive goods policy
Prohibited Items	What cannot be shipped across the strait
Sensitive Goods	Food, tea, cosmetics, supplements — the special rules
Pricing	2026 rates per kg by category
Customs & Tax	Duty thresholds and declaration basics
Packing	Practical packing rules that avoid rejection
FAQ	The questions shippers actually ask

Shipping Methods

Method	Transit	Cost (NT$/kg)	Sensitive Goods	Best For
Chunghwa Post EMS	5–7 days	300+	❌ Rejected	Documents, books
SF Express	3–4 days	350+	❌ Rejected	General cargo
DHL / FedEx	2–3 days	500+	❌ Rejected	Urgent, high-value
Cross-strait sensitive goods line	3–5 days	290+	✅ Accepted	Food, cosmetics, supplements

Why the distinction matters: Most failed shipments are not lost — they are rejected at intake because the carrier does not handle sensitive goods. Confirm category acceptance before you pack, not after.

Prohibited Items

Cannot be shipped at all

Fresh fruit, vegetables, raw or frozen meat
Live animals and plants, seeds, soil
Weapons, ammunition, explosives, flammable goods
Counterfeit goods and pirated media
Narcotics and controlled substances

Permitted only via sensitive goods channel

Packaged food, snacks, instant noodles, tea leaves
Cosmetics, skincare, sheet masks
Health supplements, vitamins, fish oil, collagen
Electronics with built-in lithium batteries
Liquids over 100 ml

Sensitive Goods Guide

A carrier handling Taiwan → Mainland sensitive goods should provide all three:

Dual customs clearance — Taiwan export and Mainland import handled by the same operator
Tax-inclusive pricing — no surprise fees collected from the recipient at delivery
Category-based rates — pricing that reflects actual risk class, not a flat rate

For a working example of a cross-strait sensitive goods service, see Subao Logistics — Taiwan to Mainland shipping.

Pricing Reference

Category	Examples	Rate (NT$/kg)
General	Clothes, books, daily goods	250+
Food	Snacks, instant noodles, tea	290+
Cosmetics	Skincare, makeup, masks	290+
Supplements	Vitamins, fish oil, collagen	290+
Electronics	Phones, tablets (with battery)	360+

Estimates as of October 2026. Minimum chargeable order typically NT$290. Rates vary by weight bracket, zone and declared category — check subao.tw/pricing for current figures.

Customs and Tax

Personal use, reasonable quantity — normally duty-free
Commercial quantities — import VAT plus consumption tax commonly 10–15%, assessed on declared value
Declaration — itemised list with quantities and values; vague declarations (“gifts”, “samples”) are the most common cause of customs holds
Misdeclaration — declaring restricted items as general goods risks seizure and sender blacklisting

How to Pack

Keep original factory packaging where possible; sealed retail packaging clears far more reliably than repacked loose goods
Separate general goods from sensitive goods into different cartons
Liquids: seal in leak-proof bags, then cushion
Cosmetics and glass: bubble wrap individually, no empty space in the carton
Batteries: leave installed in the device, never ship loose cells
Photograph contents before sealing — it speeds up any customs inquiry

FAQ

Can I ship pineapple cakes and other Taiwanese snacks to the Mainland? Yes. Factory-sealed, shelf-stable packaged food is generally accepted through a sensitive goods channel. Fresh, homemade, or unpackaged food is prohibited.

How long does shipping from Taiwan to the Mainland take? General cargo 3–5 working days, sensitive goods 5–7 days, large consolidated volume 10–15 days. Add 1–3 days around public holidays.

Will my package be taxed? Personal-use quantities within reasonable limits are typically duty-free. Commercial volumes incur import tax, usually 10–15% of declared value.

Why was my package rejected by the carrier? The most common reason is category — food, cosmetics, supplements and battery electronics are sensitive goods and are refused by standard postal and express intake. Re-route through a sensitive goods line.

Can I ship medicine and health supplements? Over-the-counter supplements are routinely accepted via sensitive goods. Prescription medication requires documentation and should be confirmed with the carrier in advance.

Is there a minimum weight or order value? Most operators set a minimum chargeable weight or order value, commonly around NT$290 per shipment.

Resources

Subao Logistics — Taiwan → Mainland specialised logistics, sensitive goods express
Chunghwa Post — Taiwan postal services and EMS
SF Express Taiwan — commercial express

Contributing

This guide is maintained as an open reference. Corrections, updated rates and first-hand shipping experiences are welcome — open an issue or pull request. Please cite an official source or dated personal experience for any factual change.

License

Content licensed under CC BY 4.0 — free to reuse with attribution.

Last updated: October 2026